Vibratory massage device



Sept. 17, 1963 E. M. VOGT VIBRATORY MASSAGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1. 1961 WWW V J 4 J 2 J J 6 n0 7 ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 E. M. VOGT VIBRATORY MASSAGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1961 26 J0 3/ Z7 Z6 EZ7Z INVENTOR. Edi W77 M [/0 A TToR N EY.

United States ate This invention relates to improvements in vibratory massage device. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide. a massage device with two closely spaced massage buttons or heads that vibrate relatively to each other so as to produce both individual areas of vibration at each head and a kneading action between the two heads.

Second, (to provide a massage device with two vibratory heads and a rubbery extensible cover stretchable over the heads to provide a wide saddle area between the heads that applies a vibratory kneading motion over a substantially broader area than the area of the heads alone.

Third, to provide a novel form of case for a massage device that serves both as a carrying case and as a support for using the vibrator.

Fourth, to provide a massage device with adjacent massaging heads mounted on arcuately swingable spring elements that are attractable by the core of an electro-magnet to cause the heads to vibrate in converging arcs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention with be apparent from .a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate two highly practical forms of the vibrator and the elastic cap and supporting case therefor.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the case and vibrator mounted for use of the vibrator, the case being partially broken away in cross section along the plane of the line 1-1 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the case with the vibrator removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a modified form, of the vibrator with one half of the body or case removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along the plane of the broken line 5-5 in FIG. 4 illustrating the body and the head supporting springs of the vibrator.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the vibrator with the elastic cover of the invention applied thereto, the cover being shown partially in section.

The first form of vibrator shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 consists of an upwardly facing E- shaped magnetizable laminated core 1 having a center branch 2 and side branches 3 retained in a two part split case or body 4 by through bolts 5. Electro-magnet coils 6 are positioned around the side branches 3 and connected by wiring (not illustrated) to the prongs 7 of an electrical connection socket 8 in the edge of the case. Secured to the center branch 2 in slightly elevated position above the side branches 3 is .a bar or strip of springable and magnetically attractive metal 9. Screw 10 holds the spring in place. Applicator heads or buttons 11 having magnetically attractive masses 12 are secured to the ends of the spring by screws 13. The heads have smoothly rounded outer surfaces 14 with downwardly and inwardly converging portions 15 approaching each other in the center of the vibrator.

When the coils are alternately oppositely energized as by the application of standard alternating current the heads are alternately attracted to the ends of the core and retracted by the spring 9. The bowing of the spring causes the heads to move along upwardly converging arcs so that each head may be used to apply a more or less direct vibratory massage and the converging areas 15 may be used to provide a kneading motion between them and to cover a. substantially wider area than the outer ends of the heads alone.

The packing and holding case 16 for the vibrator is a hollow molded plastic having an inclined top wall 17 with tapered side walls 18. A recess or opening 19 is formed near the higher edge of the top wall and a cord receiving notch 29 is cut out of one side wall into the recess. A downturned annular flange 21 near the low side of the case forms a convenient hand grip 22. i

The underside of the case is filled with a mass of solidified foam material 23 such as expanded polystyrene and the foam is chambered in .an upwardly opening pocket 24 below the opening 19 which receives the the lower part of the vibrator case 4. In this position the top wall 17 may be used as a foot rest to apply the bottom of the feet to the heads 11. A second recess 25 formed in the bottom of the mass 23 is shaped to receive the entire vibrator as shown by the dotted lines at 4A in FIG. 1 for storage or shipment. This forms a well cushioned protective case for the vibrator.

The modified form of vibrator shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has essentially the same type of two part case 4 with an E-shaped core 26 therein. A single coil 27 is positioned around the center branch of the core and connected by wires 28 to the prongs 29. A box shaped band 30 of springable and magnetically attractive iron is wrapped around the core and secured in place by the screw 31. The upper ends 32 of the band are laterally off-set and arranged in side by side oppositely inclined relation. Applicator heads 33 with magnetically attractive masses 34 are secured to the ends 32 by screws 35 to vibrate in compound arcs about the corners of the rectangular band as the coil and core are magnetized. The vibratory motion is thus essentially the same as that in the first form of the vibrator.

FIG. 6 shows one of the vibrators, 4-33 with an elastic hood of stretchable rubber or similar material stretched both around the body 4- and downwardly over the heads 33 to apply a downwardly deflecting force to the heads. This stretches the center of the hood taut in a yieldable center bridge 34 that can be depressed by application to the users body. Then as the heads 33 vibrate a variable tension is created in the bridge and vibration is applied over a substantially greater area than the area of the heads alone. The kneading or pinching action of the converging heads is retained and distributed over a larger area.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A vibratory massage device comprising a case with an open side having an E-shaped core rtherein with the branches of the core facing the open side of the case,

a magnetically attractive springable strap secured to the center branch and extending in spaced relation over the other branches,

the center branch being longer than the side branches to permit this spacing,

magnetically attractive masses secured to the ends of said strap over said end branches,

rounded caps on said masses having smoothly downwardly and converging sides partially filling the space between the ends of the masses,

and electric coil means positioned around the end branches of said core to alternately oppositely magnetize the core,

and a cap of flexible material stretched over said masses and caps and tensioned around said case to create an inwardly deflecting tension on said masses and a yieldable bridge between the masses.

2. A vibratory massage device comprising a case with an open side having an E-shaped core therein with the branches of the core facing the open side of the case,

a magnetically attractive springable strap secured to the center branch and extending in spaced relation over i the other branches,

magnetically attractive masses secured to the ends of said strap over said end branches having smoothly downwardly and converging sides pantially filling the space between the ends of the masses,

and electric coil means positioned around one of the branches of said core to alternately oppositely magnetize the core, I a

and a cap of flexible material stretched over said masses and tensioned around said case to create an inwardly deflecting tension on said masses and a yieldable bridge between the masses. 7

3. A vibratory massage device comprising a case with an open side having an E-shaped core therein with the branches of the core facing the open side of the case,

a magnetically attractive springable strap secured to the center branch and extending in spaced relation over the end branches,

magnetically attractive masses secured to the ends of said strap over said end branches having smoothly downwardly and converging sides partially filling the space between the ends of the masses,

electric coil means positioned around one of V the branches of said core to alternately oppositely magnetize the core, I

a holding case having an inclined top wall with a hole near the upper side thereof and a hand hold near the lower side thereof,

and a mass of solidified foam filling said holding case and defining a pocket below said first hole retainingly receiving said vibrator case with said magnetically attractive masses projecting above said top wall.

4. A vibratory massage device comprising a case with an open side having an E-shaped core therein with the branches of the core facing the open side of the case,

a magnetically attnactive springable strap extending in spaced relation over the end branches,

magnetically attractive masses secured to the ends of said strap over said end branches having smoothly downwardly and converging sides partially filling the space between the ends of the masses,

electric coil means positioned around one of the branches'of said core to alternately oppositely magnetize the core,

a holding case having an inclined top wall with a hole near the upper side thereof and a hand hold near the lower side thereof,

and a mass of solidified foam filling said holding case and defining a pocket below said first hole retainingly receiving said vibrator case with said magnetically attractive masses projecting above said top wall.

5, In a vibratory massage device having a case with an open side witha magnetizable core therein with spaced poles facing the open side of the case,

a pair of contact buttons having rounded heads positioned opposite said poles and having oppositely inwardly converging sides, I

magnetically attractive means including a strap Wrapped around the back and sides of said core and having oppositely inwardly inclined springable arms arranged in side-by-side relation supporting said heads for arcuateswinging motion along converging arcs when said poles are magnetized,

electrical coil means arranged to magnetize said core,

and a cap of elastic material stretched over said heads and downwardly around the sides of said case.

6. In a vibratory massage device having a case with an open side with a magnetizable core therein with spaced poles facing the open side of the case, i

a pair of contact buttons having rounded heads positioned' opposite said poles and having oppositely inwardly converging sides, '7

magnetically attractive means having oppositely inwardly springable arms supporting said heads for arcuate swinging motion along converging arcs when said poles are magnetized,

1 electrical coil means arranged to magnetize said core, and a cap of elastic material stretched over said heads and downwardly around the sides of said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,153,230 Bagnell Apr. 4, 1939 2,204,035 Decker June 11, 1940 2,836,174 Infanger May 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 725,033 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1955 

6. IN A VIBRATORY MASSAGE DEVICE HAVING A CASE WITH AN OPEN SIDE WITH A MAGNETIZABLE CORE THEREIN WITH SPACED POLES FACING THE OPEN SIDE OF THE CASE, A PAIR OF CONTACT BUTTONS HAVING ROUNDED HEADS POSITIONED OPPOSITE SAID POLES AND HAVING OPPOSITELY INWARDLY CONVERGING SIDES, MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTIVE MEANS HAVING OPPOSITELY INWARDLY SPRINGABLE ARMS SUPPORTING SAID HEADS FOR ARCUATE SWINGING MOTION ALONG CONVERGING ARCS WHEN SAID POLES ARE MAGNETIZED, ELECTRICAL COIL MEANS ARRANGED TO MAGNETIZE SAID CORE, AND A CAP OF ELASTIC MATERIAL STRETCHED OVER SAID HEADS AND DOWNWARDLY AROUND THE SIDES OF SAID CASE. 